Portable folding table



C. D. BARNITZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,407, dated July 29, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, COVINGTON D. BAR- NITZ, of the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructio-n and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an end view of the table showing the lids of the same closed at A, A, the red lines indicating the same expanded; Fig. 2, a bottom'view of table showing the mode of supporting the legs by means of the movable braces B and the stationary braces Gr; Fig. 3, bottom view of table with legs in their unfolded position; Fig. 4, end view of table showing the position given the braces B when it is desired to infold the legs, the leaves A, A, rest-ing necessarily upon the upper surface of the table C.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing by means of the folding legs D, D, E, E, and leaves or lids A, A, in connection with the movable and stationary braces B B and G G and the top C, a folding table which when closed as seen at Fig. 3 will occupy scarcely one tenth part of the room required for the tables in common use and is thus made a convenient portable table.

To enable others skilled in the art. to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I make the top of the table C of any suitable form preferring however the rectangular. with lids) the two lids A, A, of equal length and thickness with the top, and make them each of one half the width of the top. I

then place them on the plane or uppersurface of the top of the table, the upper surface of the lids resting against that of the top as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, (the sides of bothl lids A, A, lying in that position being perpendicular to the plane of the top C). I then attach the lids in that position to the top of the t-able either by butt or card table hinges or their equivalents.

a, a, Figs. 1 and 4, repre-sent the use of I then construct (if I desire a tableY card table hinges, the other lid being attached by means of butt hinges f, f, the hinges or equivalents to be neatly sunk in order that the different part-s may it tightly (which applies not only to the lids but the other parts of the table where they may be used). The lids can then be opened at pleasure as represented in Fig. 1 in red lines. I then make the legs of the usual length (not so long however as to reach 'to t-he frame part of the opposite legs) and shape each pair respectively as seen in Figs. l, 3 and 4, or give them such other equivalent shape as will allow them to rest closely (when att-ached to the table as hereafter mentioned) upon the inner surface of the table top wit-hout one interfering with the other. These legs I then attach firmly to frame pieces F of such length as to set the legs when attached to the table near enough the sides to receive the movable braces B B, as can be seen in Fig. 2. yThese frames or legs I then attach firmly upon the inner surface of the table top by means of hinges el, or their equivalents in the position and manner represented in Fig. 2, suiiciently far from the ends to receive the stationary braces G G, and sufficiently near the sides to receive the movable braces B, B, the hinges being attached as represented in Fig. 2, so that the legs close in toward each other close to the under surface of the table top. Then opening the legs perpendicularly I fit on the outside around them and the frame F to which they are attached the stationary lent thereto making them of a suicient thickness to sustain the legs and of a widthl equal to the unite-d thickness of the lid, top, and legs when they lie closed as seen in Fig. 3. I attach one of them to each side upon the under surface of the table by means of hinges 7L or their equivalents as seen in Fig. 3, so that they close in between l the legs when they stand perpendicular and are turned to the side when it is desired to close the legs as represented at B, Fig. 4.

I claim as new- The movable bra-ces and supports B,

which when in a horizontal position brace firmly the legs in an upright position and also give support to the lids A, and When turned into a vertical position permit the legs to close in against the under surface of 10 the table.

C. D. BARNITZ.

Witnesses JOHN S. HOLLINGSHEAD, I. F. VVANNALL. 

